Cost of Living Comparison Between Lugano and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Lugano and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Lugano vs $1,185 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,358 per month in Lugano vs $1,834 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,576 per month in Lugano vs $2,483 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Lugano costs about 165% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Lugano sits 134% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.78 CHF 24.35

$11.15 ₾30.00

176.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$188 CHF 149

$43.13 ₾116

336.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.76 CHF 14.84

$8.22 ₾22.11

128.22%

Cappuccino

$4.46 CHF 3.53

$3.13 ₾8.42

42.49%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 CHF 3.85

$0.74 ₾2.00

556.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 CHF 3.30

$0.45 ₾1.22

826.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.28 CHF 5.76

$2.13 ₾5.74

241.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 CHF 5.82

$2.99 ₾8.06

146.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.79

$1.89 ₾5.09

19.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 CHF 2.76

$0.73 ₾1.97

376.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.69 CHF 3.71

$1.85 ₾4.98

153.51%

Eggs

$6.95 CHF 5.50

$2.45 ₾6.58

183.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.79 CHF 21.19

$7.85 ₾21.12

241.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$37.13 CHF 29.37

$6.25 ₾16.82

494.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$47.09 CHF 37.24

$9.77 ₾26.28

381.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 CHF 2.54

$1.21 ₾3.26

165.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 CHF 1.54

$1.59 ₾4.28

22.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 CHF 2.07

$1.79 ₾4.81

46.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.62 CHF 6.03

$2.32 ₾6.25

228.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 CHF 1.78

$0.71 ₾1.91

216.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 CHF 1.85

$0.67 ₾1.81

249.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 CHF 2.05

$1.18 ₾3.16

119.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 CHF 1.03

$0.71 ₾1.92

83.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.03 CHF 8.72

$2.92 ₾7.85

277.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.21 CHF 10.45

$7.25 ₾19.50

82.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 CHF 2.08

$1.55 ₾4.17

69.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 CHF 3.28

$2.31 ₾6.21

79.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.25 CHF 2.57

$0.38 ₾1.03

755.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.1 CHF 70.5

$14.81 ₾39.83

501.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.67 CHF 5.27

$1.48 ₾3.98

350.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.57 CHF 3.62

$0.69 ₾1.86

562.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$60.8 CHF 48.10

$7.45 ₾20.05

716.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.13 CHF 1.68

$1.15 ₾3.10

85.22%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$40.9K CHF 32.4K

$18.0K ₾48.4K

127.31%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.0K CHF 29.2K

$19.8K ₾53.4K

86.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$201 CHF 159

$73.4 ₾198

173.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$73.5 CHF 58.2

$11.64 ₾31.32

531.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.1 CHF 43.62

$17.77 ₾47.79

210.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$107 CHF 84.7

$60.6 ₾163

76.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$61.4 CHF 48.58

$16.44 ₾44.21

273.54%

Cinema Ticket

$18.44 CHF 14.59

$6.51 ₾17.52

183.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,242 CHF 982

$263 ₾707

372.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.7K CHF 27.5K

$5,136 ₾13.8K

576.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$122 CHF 96.8

$77.7 ₾209

57.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.62 CHF 38.46

$44.39 ₾119

9.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 CHF 104

$118 ₾317

11.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 CHF 121

$114 ₾307

33.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,693 CHF 1,339

$693 ₾1,865

144.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,251 CHF 990

$462 ₾1,244

170.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,828 CHF 2,237

$1,337 ₾3,597

111.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,666 CHF 2,108

$779 ₾2,096

242.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.0K CHF 14.3K

$2,530 ₾6,805

612.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$13.1K CHF 10.4K

$1,430 ₾3,847

815.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,815 CHF 5,391

$633 ₾1,702

977.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

11.89

-78.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lugano: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,693 in Lugano versus $693 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 977% higher in Lugano, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $188 in Lugano versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $673 vs $206 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Lugano vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lugano costs about 165% more than Tbilisi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,709 per month in Lugano and $1,777 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,139 in Lugano and $1,185 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 501% less in Tbilisi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,185, than in Lugano at $3,139. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lugano it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tbilisi costs $1,185 versus $3,139 in Lugano. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lugano makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.